Artistry and Identity in Stone: Master Carver Bernat Vidal

Although busily carving a piece for the Smithsonian at the time, Basque stonecarver Bernat Vidal happily agreed to put his work aside when we asked if he had time for an interview. Bernat’s friendliness and willingness to answer questions and explain his work were clear in this conversation and in all of his interactions with the public throughout the Folklife Festival.

Bernat and his fellow Basque artisans created beautiful pieces during their time on the National Mall. Many worked with traditional art forms, adding their own twists to create works that were grounded in tradition but relevant to the contemporary world. Here, Bernat describes his love for his art, the traditional symbols he uses in his carving, and how he works to support Basque artisans.